The Essential Guide to Food and Drink Government Shutdown Specials (Updated)

Look at it this way: a government shutdown equals more time—and reason—to drink. And whether you are furloughed or not, there are plenty of food and drink specials around town. We'll continue to update this list as long as the shutdown lasts. If you know of other promotions, email us at hungry@washingtoncitypaper.com.

Present a federal government ID and receive half-off select pizzas as well as $3 for select draft beers and $4 for hours liquors. There's also a happy hour from 4 to 7 p.m. weekdays with $4 drafts and wines by the glass at the bar.

Carmine's CEO Jeff Bank is offering any of the restaurant's nine private rooms for free to President Barack Obama, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, and House Speaker John Boehner to hammer out an agreement over spaghetti and meatballs. For the rest of us, there's the $12 Olive Branch cocktail with Plymouth gin, olives, pickled onions, and rosemary.

For every day the government is shutdown, happy hour extends an extra hour. Tuesday's happy hour will go from 4 to 8 p.m., Wednesday's will end at 9 p.m., Thursday's at 10 p.m., and so on. Deals include $7 cocktails, $6 glasses of wine, $5 bar bites, and $1 oysters.

After some mishaps with Tuesday's shutdown deals, the restaurant plans to offer $2 house wines and draft beers from 5 p.m. to close on Oct. 2—with government ID. The deal can't be combined with any other special pricing.

Happy hour specials are extended during lunch (open Wednesday through Friday) until the shutdown ends with $5 margaritas, half-price drafts, $5 wines by the glass, $4 rail drinks, and $2 off appetizers and tortas.

Bring a government ID and get half-off all wines by the glass, beer, and cocktails from 5 to 7 p.m. The deal is available every day except Saturday and Monday (when the restaurant is closed) until the shutdown ends.

Happy hour extended for everyone until 8 p.m. Patrons with a government ID get a burger (or veggie burger or pulled pork sandwich) and beer for $10. The restaurant has a new general manager, chef, and menu as of last week.

Throughout the shutdown, furloughed government employees with ID can get free tours and tastings of the brewery Thursdays and Fridays at 4, 5, and 6 p.m. plus Saturdays at noon, 1, 3, and 4 p.m. Reservations are not required. First come, first serve.

Get $2.50 PBR tall boys from open (12:30 p.m.) to close with government ID. (Members of Congress excluded.) Almost all dishes are $10 or less for lunch or dinner. There will be different deals each day the shutdown goes on.

Bitter about the shutdown? How about some bitter hops? Righteous Cheese will serve free mini-pairings of Thornbridge Halcyon IPA and Montgomery’s Cheddar with any dine-in purchase at the bar. Must have D.C. or federal government ID. The deal is good Wednesday through Friday from 4 to 8 p.m.

From 11 a.m. until sundown throughout the shutdown, Tony and Joe’s Seafood Place as well as Nick’s Riverside Grill are offering happy hour pricing. In addition, federal and District employees with ID get a 30-percent discount on their meals. These deals cannot be combined with any other discounts.

There are multiple deals and discounts here: You can get any pint and large slice for $7 at they Shirlington and Fern St. locations (Monday-Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and a bottle wine and a large pizza at their Cameron Station location for $25 (Tuesday-Thursday from 5 to 9 p.m.). At all three locations on Monday through Thursday, you can get any 12-inch two-topping pizza and a pint for $15, and two large 16-inch pizzas with two toppings each for $25. Government ID is required.

All alcohol (beer, wine, liquor and craft cocktails) is 50-percent off, and you can get any three of chef Billy Klein’s menu items for only $21. Federal ID or “a compelling argument that [you’ve] in any way been inconvenienced or even annoyed by the furlough” is required. This deal is good for all hours that the restaurant is open.